Posted by David Cerra
a resident of Del Prado
on Jul 16, 2014 at 8:55 am

I think they should find another place for a new cementary in the surrounding areas and build a better one and not spend allot of money fixing his one up and also include a pet cementary as well! That would be the first!

I really appreciate that they are considering fixing up this cemetery. While my family doesn't own plots there, so many if our residents that have been here for decades have. We owe it to them and those already at rest there to give it attention it desperately needs. The "out with the old and in with new" is selfish. Let's not just abandon this cemetery because it's old.

And by the way, I'm in my 30's and no one in my family own plots there. The cemetery just makes me sad every time I see it.

Posted by Peter
a resident of Happy Valley
on Jul 16, 2014 at 12:04 pm

Good, about time the Pioneer Cemetery got a face lift. As the gateway to the city, it deserves a little care and facelift. At last, Pleasanton is showing a little pride and responsibility to those pioneers resting there.

The pioneer cemetery looks great for a pioneer cemetery where the people who purchased plots did not pay the same prices as those in other cemeteries where they have a manicured lawn.

I don't want to be subsidizing those who purchased plots in the cemetery for a ridiculously low price. The people who are packing the meetings to improve the cemetery are those who get in under the wire to purchase a plot for real cheap. Now they want the taxpayers to make their plots into a park. Unless every resident of Pleasanton can purchase a plot for the price of those who already purchased their plot, this is a gift of public funds to a small group of people. The people who bought plots there knew what they were purchasing. There has never been a lawn there. The maintenance now is actually MUCH better than how the Odd Fellows maintained it when these people purchased their lots. If the people who own plots there want a manicured lawn, the solution is an improvement district; paid for by those who have a plot.

Posted by REALLY III
a resident of Pleasanton Village
on Jul 17, 2014 at 2:48 pm

There are many folks buried there that helped build this town long before we came. The history is amazing if you've actually gone into the cemetery as my family has even though we don't own plots there. I'm sure you are a newer family and not like many of our families that have been here for generations and care about preserving Pleasanton. When my grandparents bought their plots at a cemetery many years ago, you pay the going rate and you plan in advance to make sure family can be buried and because it makes it easier for grieving families when final arrangements have been decided to pre-plan. It's deplorable that you think that people smart enough to ore plan should now pay a premium because the city let this historic cemetery slowly get runner down.

If your a newer family here, then please stay out of the business of those of us that have been here for generations and care about the town's rich history.

Posted by Sherry
a resident of Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jul 18, 2014 at 9:38 am

III, please don't post ignorant comments like the one above. Sure, some people got 'deals' on plots at Pioneer. But it's also true that a lot of people --myself included-- paid five-figure sums for the newer plots. It is NOT a bargain-basement cemetery. We do our best to keep our little boy's plot looking nice, but in general, the cemetery --and especially the newer portion that includes plots purchased for those five-figure sums-- looks really sad.

Sherry, I doubt you paid 5 figures for your plot. But if you and a lot of other people did, the amount you all paid should go into the maintenance fund to fund the park on top of your private spot. When you bought your plot, does your contract state that the city would be making significant upgrades? Did your 'salesperson' make statements that the park would be converted from a pioneer cemetery to a forest lawn? I doubt it, and if they did, we should find out who has been making the false statements. You, and others, bought a plot in a pioneer cemetery, knowing that a pioneer cemetery is not a forest lawn. Please do not tell the taxpayers to fund an increase in value to your plot. This is not a 'park' where people can do what they want, like other parks. This is a piece of land where people own a specific place in, like a condo. Giving public funds to your private piece of land would be a gift of public funds. No different than giving money to a condo association to put in new landscaping.

Posted by III is right
a resident of Downtown
on Jul 21, 2014 at 7:39 am

I could not agree more with III. That cemetery was never promised to be a lawn covered park. The early people buried there expected what it is and that's exactly all that they paid for. The rest of us in town have no responsibility to pay for an asset that we have no financial interest in and will not be using. If you were foolish enough to pay five figures for a plot then I have a bridge to sell you. Likely story.

Posted by Ptownpatty
a resident of Danbury Park
on Jul 21, 2014 at 9:07 am

I also paid 5 figures (~10k) 2 years ago, and yes it was stated that the City will maintain the cemetery at the Pioneer level, but that doesn't mean it can't be improved. Also I wanted to be buried in Pleasanton and don't appreciate the derision for buying a plot here. It's the going rate.

Ptownpatty, you have a private plot there. It cannot be used by anybody else in the city. So ONLY YOU benefit from your plot being converted to much more expensive digs. A park can be enjoyed by anybody and everybody. Your plot cannot be enjoyed by anybody except for you and your family. If you want to improve the plot you paid for, you should be the one who pays for it, not me.

In addition, hasn't this drought taught us that watering a lawn is a waste of a limited resource? If anything is done there, it should not use water. How about making it like the cemetery next store (the church). They are all concrete. Personally I like the natural look rather than concrete. We cannot have a public park go dead and people's personal lawns go dead and maintain a cemetery lawn.

Please let me know or advertise online that there may be very cute pot party and my gang of seniors will all show up. Try to plan the party in the middle of the week so that we can all be present. Otherwise, a few of us will be out of town and miss all the fun!!!

Posted by III is Right
a resident of Downtown
on Jul 21, 2014 at 5:17 pm

"the City will maintain the cemetery at the Pioneer level"

That's exactly the point! AT that level, not IMPROVED BEYOND that level. You got what you paid for as did everyone before you. Expectations that the rest of us should fund a lush, green park in your honor are misplaced. If you want something else then fund a trust that will continue to pay for it long after you are gone. Better ask your heirs first, they most likely would rather just have the cash.

Posted by mICHAEL aUSTIN
a resident of Pleasanton Meadows
on Jul 23, 2014 at 5:08 pm

There is not a lot of money.
The General fund (reserve fund) has only $13.2 million as of
a few days ago.
The total available funds are over $100 million.
Most all of those funds are restricted to things like repair
and replacement of fixed assets and equipment ($18M) or CIP
($50M) or water and sewer ($18M) or retiree medical ($30M).
The council in recent memory has not voted to put additional
funds into the reserve fund. I wish they would, I.E. The 200K
to promote water restrictions.

Maybe the 500k did not come from the city coffers but it certainly came from the taxpayers as will the settlement for the Principal. The 500k for the dog park and the 420k for the Rotary park certainly did. It is my belief that we are just flushing cash and this just makes no sense.

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